It’s a remarkable story about two young girls from halfway across the world, joined together through sport.
Maria Khan and Laraib Fatima are both from Pakistan and moved to Saskatoon at different times. Khan and her family made the move in 2009, while Fatima‘s family came over in 2012.
Neither of the girls knew each other back home, but it was the sport of basketball that would soon spark an unbreakable friendship.
“I didn’t really play sports in Pakistan,” said Fatima. “It wasn't really common to play sports, but when I came here it was a new opportunity so I decided to try it out."
It was on the basketball court at Bedford Road Collegiate that Fatima met Khan. It didn’t take long before the Grade 10 duo became inspeparable.
"We had this like connection within the two of us, both of us liked the same sports, and every lunch period we would come down to the gym and we would practice shooting threes,” said Khan
In fact, the girls got so good at the game, they decided to cheer each other on and try out for Bedford Road’s junior basketball team.
“Whenever we tried out for sports, we encouraged each other to go together,” said Fatima. “We always tried out together and made the team, and we practiced together."
The girls became leaders on the team, setting an example for their teammates, and catching the eye of their coach, Sarah-Jane Walker.
“You'd never know that they didn't grow up playing basketball,” said Walker. “Those two girls, they always go above and beyond to make sure everyone feels welcomed and valued."
The girls both have aspirations to play on the senior team together next year, but they also aim to inspire other girls to let them know that anything is possible.
“Play sports, find what’s best within you,” said Khan. “Embrace your faith, embrace your culture, you don’t have to think that you’re different.”
